Fluid-stream driven aircraft

Abstract

An aircraft body has a pair of hydraulic fluid operated motors mounted on it, a pair of stream-creating devices driven by the motors and symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the axis of symmetry of the body. One or more hydraulic fluid-flow producing devices has at least a pair of separate fluid-handling chambers each connected to one of a pair of separate outlets, and including arrangements for fluid-tight separation of the chambers and outlets, so that fluid from each chamber passes through only one of the outlets. A pair of displacement units is associated with the fluid-handling chambers, respectively, and an equally acting actuator arrangement cooperates equally with both of the two displacement units for maintaining equal movements of the two displacement units so that fluid flows in the outlets at proportionate and equal flow rates. A pair of delivery passages connects each of the outlets with a different one of the motors, respectively.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
       1. A fluid-stream driven aircraft, comprising, in combination, a body having an axis of substantial symmetry; pairs of hydraulic fluid-operated motors on said body; pairs of stream-creating means driven by said motors, respectively, and arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of said axis; a plurality of hydraulic fluid-flow producing means each having at least a pair of separate fluid-handling chambers each connected to one of a pair of separate outlets, and including means for fluid-tight separation of the chambers and outlets so that fluid from each chamber passes through one of said outlets only; a pair of displacement means associated with said fluid-handling chambers, respectively; equally acting actuator means cooperating equally with said displacement means for maintaining equal movements of said displacement means so that fluid flows in said outlets at proportionate and equal flow rates; pairs of delivery passage means connecting each of said outlets with a different one of said motors, respectively, whereby said stream-creating means on opposite sides of said axis are driven at equal velocities for producing equal thrusts on both sides of said axis to stabilize the movement and attitude of said aircraft, each of said fluid-flow producing means supplying a plurality of separated flows of fluid of proportionate rate of flow into a plurality of separated fluid lines; some of said plurality of fluid-flow producing means being communicated together to form a combined multiflow circuit system of a plurality of separated flows of fluid of proportionate rate of flow, and others of said plurality of fluid-flow producing means also being communicated together to form another combined multiflow circuit system of a plurality of separated flows of fluid of equal rate of flow, so that said combined multiflow circuit systems may either be combined or independently operated and controlled; at least a pair of separated fluid lines of at least two of a plurality of fluid-flow producing means in each of said combined multiflow circuit systems being combined together to form respective pairs of separated common fluid lines; pairs of separated positive displacement fluid motors communicated to respective pairs of said separated common fluid lines, at least one fluid motor of each of said pairs of separated positive displacement fluid motors communicating with one of the fluid lines of the pairs of fluid lines; said combined multiflow circuit systems by connection of rotor members to the said fluid motors actuating at least two pairs of jointly or independently operable and controllable streams of fluid, wherein the streams of each pair of streams of fluid are of proportionate rate of flow; and means for preventing return flow from said separated common fluid lines to and through one or more of said fluid-flow producing means.